Holometabolism, also called complete metamorphism, is a term applied to insect groups to describe the specific kind of insect development which includes four life stages - as an embryo, a larva, a pupa and an imago. For example, in the life cycle of a butterfly, the embryo grows within the egg, hatching into the larval stage caterpillar, before entering the pupal stage within its chrysalis and finally emerging as an adult butterfly imago. Metamorphosis in biology is physical development of the individual after birth or hatching involving significant change in form as well as growth and differentiation. ... Embryos (and one tadpole) of the wrinkled frog (Rana rugosa you beezie). ... A larva (Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of animal with indirect development, undergoing metamorphosis (for example, insects or amphibians). ... Chrysalis of Gulf Fritillary in Georgetown, South Carolina Pupation of Aglais urticae A pupa (plural: pupae or pupas) is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. ... The imago is the last stage of development of an insect, after the last ecdysis of an incomplete metamorphosis, or after emergence from pupation where the metamorphosis is complete. ... The striking caterpillar of the Emperor Gum Moth A caterpillar is the larval form of a lepidopteran (a member of the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). ... A chrysalis is a type of pupa, a protective case within which an insect is undergoing metamorphosis from a larva into the adult form. ...

Some insect orders which are holometabolic are:

• Lepidoptera - Butterflies and moths
• Hymenoptera - Ants, bees, sawflies and wasps
• Coleoptera - Beetles
• Diptera - Flies

Super Families Butterflies Hesperioidea Papilionoidea Moths Micropterigoidea Heterobathmioidea Eriocranioidea Acanthopteroctetoidea Lophocoronoidea Neopseustoidea Mnesarchaeoidea Hepialoidea Nepticuloidea Incurvarioidea Palaephatoidea Tischeriodea Simaethistoidea Tineoidea Gracillarioidea Yponomeutoidea Gelechioidea Zygaenoidea Sesioidea Cossoidea Tortricoidea Choreutoida Urodoidea Galacticoidea Schreckensteinioidea Epermenioidea Pterophoroidea Aluctoidea Immoidea Axioidea Hyblaeoidea Thyridoidea Whalleyanoidea Pyraloidea Mimallonoidea Lasiocampoidea Geometroidea Drepanoidea Bombycoidea Calliduloidae Hedyloidea Noctuoidea Families About... Suborders Apocrita Symphyta Many families, see article Hymenoptera is one of the larger orders of Insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. ... For other uses, see Beetle (disambiguation). ... Suborders Archidiptera Eudiptera Brachycera Diptera are insects in which the hind wings are reduced to halteres. ...

See also

• Hemimetabolism
• Ametabolism
• Metamorphosis

Hemimetabolism, also called incomplete metamorphism, is a term used to describe insects with a specific type of life cycle, including three distinct stages: the embryo, nymph, and the adult stage, or the imago. ... Metabolism whereby there is slight or no metamorphosis ... Metamorphosis in biology is physical development of the individual after birth or hatching involving significant change in form as well as growth and differentiation. ...

External links

• Metamorphosis - A remarkable change